Fun places to visit

Shopping For Fabric

The Kappa In Japanese Folklore

Kappas are legendary creatures that inhabit the rivers and waterways of Japan. They have beaked noses, shells on their back and a depression on their heads that holds water. Kappa are mischievous troublemakers. Their pranks range from the relatively innocent, such as loudly passing gas or looking up women's kimonos, to the more troublesome such as drowning swimmers and eating children. They feed on their victims by sucking their liver though their anus. They love cucumbers and if you write your name on a cucumber and throw it in the river, the kappa may be appeased by your gift and allow you to swim in peace.

January 2011

January 16, 2011

I like radishes, but I've always thought of them as something to be eaten raw. The show I house managed last December, Conni's Avant Garde Restaurant, served a meal as part of the show (but it wasn't dinner theatre). One of the menu items was radishes in brown butter, which were absolutely delicious. I tried to duplicate them at home, with the additional of lacinato kale (part of my eat more vegetables in 2011 promise).

Radishes and Kale in brown butter

2 bunches of radishes
2 tablespoons butter
1 bunch of lacinato kale

Cut the radishes into thick slices. Brown the butter over medium high heat. You are heating the butter until the milk solids turn brown. I used my cast iron dutch oven because the white enamel coating made it easy to see the color changes. The butter should be light brown. Add the radishes, and continue cooking until they get a little brown and caramelly. While they are cooking bring a pot of water to a boil, and the kale and cook for about 3 minutes, drain in a colander while running cold water over it, then squeeze out the excess water and add to the radishes. Cook a few minutes longer then add salt and pepper to taste.
I'm a slapdash sort of cook, so if there is anything about this recipe that doesn't seem right, please let me know.